He knew a good deal respecting Lady Lufton's income and the manner in which it was spent.

It was very handsome for a single lady, but then she lived in a free and open-handed style; her charities were noble; there was no reason why she should save money, and her annual income was usually spent within the year.

Mark knew this, and he knew also that nothing short of an impossibility to maintain them would induce her to lessen her charities.

She had now given away a portion of her principal to save the property of her son--her son, who was so much more opulent than herself,--upon whose means, too, the world made fewer effectual claims.

And Mark knew, too, something of the purpose for which this money had gone.